Postdoc researcher in transitions to nature-inclusive farming systems

Are you a researcher passionate about restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services in agroecosystems? Are you experienced in the design of reward schemes for farmers and/or the underlying policy frameworks? Would you like to be part of an interdisciplinary research team, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, to address complex environmental challenges? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you.

There is a need to transition to more ‘nature-inclusive’ or ‘biodiversity-positive’ food systems. Livestock production systems, as a main land user (globally and in the Netherlands), are urged to act and contribute to the recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. The design of reward schemes that support farmers in such a transition, however, remains a challenge.   

In this context, two research projects have been granted: ECOPESIA (EU Horizon Europe) Enhancing climate and ecosystem outcomes through the promotion and upscaling of payment for environmental services in agriculture; and DECISION (NWO-KIC) Dairy and Ecology: co-innovating business operations for nature. These projects aim to develop integral approaches and reward schemes that support the transition to nature-inclusive (dairy) farming systems in the EU and in the Netherlands. 

Your research will contribute to the aims and tasks of these two projects. You will also contribute to the teaching duties of the Animal Production Systems (APS) chair group. 

Your research tasks include:

• Developing an analytical framework for designing, assessing, and scaling schemes that reward farmers for delivering biodiversity and ecosystem services (e.g. payment for ecosystem services, agri-environmental schemes, nature credits and result-based finance);
• Mapping and critically assessing relevant policy frameworks at global, EU, and Dutch contexts, and where relevant proposing policy recommendations to support the design and implementation of reward schemes;
• Developing an integrated research agenda aligning the objectives of both research projects;
• Supporting project coordination and management activities;
• Contributing to scientific publications, project outputs, and policy-relevant outputs.

Your education tasks include supervising MSc and BSc students, and contribute to teaching activities (lectures and practicals) in courses, such as APS40306 Future Livestock Systems, APS30306 Sustainability Assessment in Animal Sciences or BEC33306 Finance and Sustainability.

You will work here

This postdoc will be situated at the the Animal Production Systems group of Wageningen University & Research. Here we analyze and explore the roles of livestock in food systems with the aim of making these food systems more sustainable. The group focuses on unravelling the complexity of livestock systems, and exploring trade-offs and synergies of innovations regarding environmental impact, animal welfare, and economic viability, to design a more sustainable future.

You will join the team led by Raimon Ripoll-Bosch, focused on understanding the complex interactions between livestock, nature (biodiversity and ecosystem services) and economy, to design enabling environments for the transitions to nature-inclusive agroecosystems.

For this position, you are a systems thinker, with experience in inter- and transdisciplinary research, mixed-method approaches (including both quantitative and qualitative methods), and multi-scale assessments (e.g. from field to landscape level, and along the supply chain). 

You are expert in one, and knowledgeable about at least one other, of the following: i) sustainability and social-ecological systems (theory and practice); ii) concepts such as biodiversity-positive, nature-inclusive, agroecology applied to agroecosystems; iii) design of reward schemes (e.g. payment for ecosystem services or nature credits), including the development of KPIs to guide decision-making, of valuation and verification methods or of transaction mechanisms; iv) relevant policy frameworks (e.g. EU Biodiversity Strategy, EU Nature Restoration Regulation, or EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive -CSRD-) for the development of reward schemes.     

You also have:

• A PhD degree in farming systems analysis and development, sustainability transitions, agricultural or environmental economics, or a related discipline.
• Experience in working with multi-method approaches, and in inter- or transdisciplinary projects.
• Ability to work independently and complete tasks effectively, while being flexible and collaborative within a team.
• Interest in developing expertise in domains adjacent to your core research field.
• Proven track record of publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Experience with project management and with conducting research within NWO and/or EU Horizon projects will be considered an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and academic writing/speaking skills in English, and preferably also in Dutch. 

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.546,- and € 5.538,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended on good performance, for the duration of the project (2 years).

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. 

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. 

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. 

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Raimon Ripoll-Bosch: raimon.ripollbosch@wur.nl

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas Corporate Recruiter, via noorien.abbas@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

The application should be in English, and contain a motivation letter and your CV. 

You can apply up to and including 20 July 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for the first week of September 2026.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

​The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

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